Volunteers are the soul of WYD

There is one role which is key to the success of World Youth Day (WYD) and, especially, for Rio2013: the volunteer. March 25th will launch the official Campaign for World Youth Day Volunteers for Rio2013. To learn more about the work of volunteers and how the campaign will be run, we interviewed the man responsible for the Volunteer Sub-Committee, Father Ramon Nascimento.

Rio2013- Who can volunteer for WYD? What is needed?

Nascimento- Anyone can be a volunteer who is 18 years old as of WYD. “Ah, but I’ll have a birthday at the very end of WYD.” Sorry, you cannot volunteer. Volunteers must be 18 years old on the first day of WYD. So if you will be 18, you may volunteer.

Rio2013- What does it mean to be a WYD volunteer?

Nascimento- I would say that volunteers are the lifeblood of WYD, because the volunteers are those who make the event happen: they perform the work, host pilgrims and prepare everything. The volunteer arm of WYD is extending up to welcome the pilgrims, to help and to give guidance so that they can indeed live World Youth Day.

Rio2013- What is the message of the volunteer campaign?

Nascimento- Our slogan is to understand that it doesn’t matter who you are; there is within each person a youth. You need to exercise it. You will see that the big question is experiencing your youth. “Enjoy, share, use your youth.”

Rio2013- What are the roles of volunteers? How are they used?

Nascimento- [Volunteers are needed] in the most diverse of functions: from reception at the airport and bus stations, to preparing the stage, providing security, and delivering water. That is, [volunteers are needed for] everything that happens during WYD.

Rio2013- To volunteer, do I need to be available 24 hours a day during World Youth Day?

Nascimento- You do not need to be available 24 hours. But, during WYD, we expect that the person has availability because these days are lived intensely. Each gives the little they have, knowing that during WYD that we will need to ask a little bit more.

Rio2013- Today there are about 9,000 volunteers. How many do you intend to arrive?

Nascimento- In total, 60,000. But we must understand and respect the quantification of these volunteers. Because of these 60,000, 45,000 are diocesan volunteers, not only of the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro, but part of the Archdioceses of Niterói, Nova Iguaçu and Duque de Caxias. The other 15,000 volunteers will be divided into two groups: 7,500 international volunteers and 7,500 national volunteers.

Rio2013- Why are so many volunteers necessary?

Nascimento- Because there is an expectation. Actually, this is still an estimate. We will only have that number verified when we have organized all functions requiring volunteers. For now, 60,000 is an estimate, and is as a basis for planning.

Rio2013- I want to volunteer, but I am not a professional. Will there be some training?

Nascimento- Yes. Even those who are professionals will go through a training. Depending on the work to be done, a volunteer’s work may require a structured training, or the volunteer may need only to work within a methodology that will be stipulated.

Rio2013- How important is the work of the coordinators of parish volunteers for WYD 2013?

Nascimento- The parish coordinators are our presence in every parish, they are our cheerleaders. They are great pickups, our biggest promoters. Without them, we would not get to the parishes. Each volunteer coordinator in the parishes is our presence, our voice is, our view, our hand.

Rio2013- For the volunteers who live far away, will room and board be offered and will the cost of transportation be covered?

Ramon- We need to understand the following: when we speak of volunteers who live far away, we are not talking of those from the Archdiocese of Rio or branch offices, which are Niterói, New Delhi and Caxias. When a person offers himself or herself as a volunteer, we are not responsible for the commute from where the person lives into Rio and vice versa. As for the commute within the city, we will take responsibility. That is, travel for volunteers from where they live to get to Rio de Janeiro is each person’s responsibility, as is the cost of their travel to return home. But while the volunteers are here serving, exercising his or her ministry as a volunteer member of World Youth Day, we will ensure that they are able to move around the city and, of course, we will see that our volunteers are well fed. Also, we will partner with local parishes to be sure our volunteers are provided lodging.

I am Church Preist and International Co-ordination of our Bethlehem Church Ministry / Trust, located at Karachi, Pakistan, I am very glad to know about your WYD 2013, and out of our parish few youngster willing to participate as a VOLUNTEER in this event.

so. will you help me to know that what will be requirements/formalities ?

awaiting your precious reply,

May Lord Bless you and he may shower you his un-ending blessings upon you,

I have registered to be a volunteer for the WYD 2013. I was very blessed to have been given the chance to attend WYD 2011 in Madrid and I would like to give back and serve young pilgrims all over the world who will be coming to Rio just as the volunteers in Madrid took care of us. I fervently hope and pray to be part of the WYD 2013 volunteers. 🙂

The World Youth Day will always be a blessing to my family. GOd is so great that He has always made us a part of the WYD. In 1995 when WYD was hosted by the Philippines, we were able to accommodate three pilgrims. Hence in our little way was able to share to others. In 2005 my eldest daughter joined the pilgrims from her school in Cologne Germany. In 2008, the more blessed we were since my second daughter was a pilgrim and I was chosen to be a volunteer to WYD Sydney Australia. And for WYD 2011, my nephew made it as a pilgrim to Madrid. It is my sincerest desire to be of service to the many people wanting to witness Christ presence among various cultures hence I am applying as a volunteer to WYD Rio Brazil this time. If I will be blessed, I will take my only son as a pilgrim. As a volunteer, I felt and saw Christ in each pilgrim and one faith can unite millions of peoples with various cultures and languages. Hope to see all in Rio!

Loved reading all the info on World Youth Day.Iam writing from Florida New York. I am a catechist for St.Josephs Parish in our town. I also taught in my Church Our Lady Of Mount Carmel in Brooklyn New York.I am looking to provide something on a smaller scale to get our kids involved and letting them see Getting to know God is not imppossible !!!! It’s a choice we make.If anyone has any helpful hints,Ideas,programs please share them with me